Finding The Pace at a New Distance

Running a few races at a much slower pace than I’m used to.

For the likely small group of folks that will end up at this page, I appreciate your taking a moment to consider my thoughts. As often happens to people as they reach a different stage of life, waking up one day disoriented by the current state of affairs has been my experience for most of the last two years. If there are a small number of eyes that will see this page, there’s an even smaller number who will have any concern for the minutia that created that sensation so I we’ll just move along to the hopeful reason I’ve decided to revive an archaic medium and post on my dormant blog. It’s time to learn how to run again.

In the largest portion of the last 20 years I worked as a head cross country and/or lead distance event track & field coach, mostly in the NCAA Division III level. It was a life I greatly enjoyed and the rhythm of a college or high school competition season was the sundial that oriented my annual calendar. For the sake of brevity, all that is necessary to state here is, my leaving that world was not my choice and I fought to stay with all I had left in a very tired soul. Nothing illegal or otherwise immoral happened. One day, I answered a phone call and was informed I did not have a job. No situation is ever as simple as the likely millions of others who have experienced that type of scenario would confirm. This isn’t a tragedy, it’s merely a harsh reality that crushed a part of me that I’m not sure will ever fully recover.

Life moves on. Things evolve. Your place in the world changes. You are, for how ever long you are. Then you are not.

Except, that’s not true for me. I will always be.

Coach.

A group of really kind people that care deeply about my alma mater put me in their hall of fame for being a coach. (You can read about that elsewhere on this site) The relationships and experiences required to accomplish the kinds things that qualify a person for that type of honor impact you for your entire life. A phone call cannot change that about life.

For a solid year I stumbled around, disoriented with no practice times on my schedule. No recruiting calls. No conference or national honor rolls to sift through on long Saturday night bus rides or over Sunday morning coffee. Pockets devoid of receipts for travel expenses. A job where no one knew what a shoe being “super” means. Over 12 months of realizing I lived in a niche world for almost two decades that no longer had a place for me.

Then it happened that an old friend and former colleague reached out about a job opportunity for which I may be qualified. 20 days later I had a new job making significantly more than I ever had in my life. It is very much not a coaching position. The work is good and meaningful and it does help student athletes.

Within a few months after that a few former college runners I’d worked with asked about marathon training and I’ve set out working with them to improve their experience in that endeavor…We message several times a week…A former coaching colleague new to being a high school AD reached out to see if I could help her very overworked cross country coach with their growing program…I was back at cross country practice as if it was my freshman year all over again.

So what then…when you continue existing after something very powerful in your life goes away? Well for me I do what I’ve always done since I found running 25 years ago, I went for a run.

I’m training, now. For a 33 mile fundraiser run you can learn more about in my social media accounts.

This is life in a new stage. I’m still a bit disoriented but I’m figuring out how to dream while also being present-tense. So there is learning the tactics of a new race, a new pacing, a new venue. There is strength in learning to hope again. My new hope is I can encourage you, a coach in your corner of sorts.

I did not start running to win a conference title. I did not start coaching to win an NCAA title. But I’m unwilling to forgo my naïve belief that the best path to achieve those goals is focusing on the quality of the path itself. The work is purifying and holy. It’s worth every step if motives are right. Holding on to that thought, I’m running again to see what’s possible, as George Sheehan once said, on the other side of sweat.

100 Words: When Coaching Clichés Kill My Mojo

The second edition of sharing 100 words from my current internal monologue on coaching, faith, running and life. Thanks for taking a moment to think aloud along with me.

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Clichés abound in coaching. Or business or government or religion...

We seek words or statements that seem to reach the marrow of the matter. Can we hold so tightly to ideas that the life giving sustenance is leached out?

Undervalued trees in an idealized forest. Teammates in a team. Individuals in a culture. Nameless characters in our character.

How dangerous that can be. Much of what is true about working with people is hard to quantify or quality check.

Yet, quality control and keeping score is required.

While remembering, every jersey is filled with a soul. Soil to be tended.

A right time to hold on and another to let go

The words of Lamentations as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson speak to my current life experiences. Earlier this week I finalized a decision that is very simply one of the most difficult choices I have ever made.

It is the time for me to hold on closely to my family and identity in Christ and to let go of a place and position that has been indescribably influential and formative in my life. I do not wish to speak any further about my personal situation as I am fine and this was a prayerful decision made by my family and I several months ago.

I only desire an attempt at the impossible task of thanking all the people who believed in me and supported me in my time at North Central University. I know some will be left out and I hope that does not imply that I love or appreciate you any less. To all current and former NCU athletics coaches, staff or student-athletes I am so very grateful for the times we shared together. To the athletes I’ve coached, I hope one day my son is blessed to be in a community of people as special and lovely as the ones you created on our teams. I can give you no greater compliment.

Finally, the text of my resignation letter:

November 26, 2018

After much prayer and seeking Godly counsel, and in consideration of recent changes to my position within the athletics department, I find it necessary and in the best interest of myself and family and the extended North Central University community that I submit my resignation from all professional responsibilities, upon completion of those duties in 2018.

Over the last 18 years it has been my great privilege to have been a part of the North Central Cross Country and Track & Field programs, as a student athlete, assistant and head coach. Outside of my wife and immediate family no group of people has been more influential in my life than my teammates, coaches and coworkers at North Central, many of whom are still of great impact in my daily life today.

It has been a beautiful experience working alongside athletes in the NCU cross country and track programs. These men and women of Christ-like spirit, great character, unparalleled work ethic and immense talent made it an honor to come to work each day. To have been trusted with the responsibility of guiding young people in stewardship of their athletic gifts while using those abilities to worship the Lord in spirit and truth is humbling beyond words. A debt of thankfulness is owed to each and every Ram I was fortunate to work with over the years. We accomplished so much together and, to me, you will always be far more than just a GPA number or one line on a results page.

I am forever grateful to my coach, mentor and friend, Greg Hayton along with former assistant athletic director Cedric Jones for launching my dream career in college athletics when they hired me as a student worker at NCU. Additional thanks to former Vice President of Student Development, Mike Nosser, who along with Coach Hayton, believed in me enough to make me the head coach at NCU in 2006. Thank you as well, to Greg Johnson for his support and leadership the last several years including the work that allowed us to host our first ever home meet, the 2015 UMAC Championships. I would also like to thank former supervisors, great friends and forever adopted family Michelle Sieh, Jon High and Jake Smith for their leadership and support along the way.

To the many other student-athletes across the rosters of different NCU sports teams I had the honor to support and cover as a sports information professional, I know the time and sacrifice you gave to our school. Aside from the many parents and family met over the years, I’ll always be your biggest fan.

A final thanks to Dr. Gordon Anderson and Scott Hagan for their support of athletics at North Central University.

God bless and GO RAMS!.

Trey Meadows

Additionally, Tim Austin, Dave Mowers, Tony Lehr, Bree Williamson, Kara Hurst, Catherine Winkelman, David Calhoun, Kelsey Daggett and Jimmy Hultengren, Brian & Sarah Lee, Matt Haskins and Jenny Hitchcock thank you for standing with me as we served student-athletes on the cross country and track teams.

Finally a huge thanks to several others I would like to thank who helped and encouraged me as I cared for the student-athletes at NCU. Fellow coaches and staff Kenny Flermoen, Steph Schmidt, Tim Beasley, Trent Emenecker, Megan Kaczmarek, George Carr, Andrew Cameron, Daved Lundeen, Lon Flippo, Paul Brunner, Justin Brown and Faith Ooms. And a very special thanks to the unique and important contributions of athletic trainers Amara Kelly Sing Pamperin, Karmen Voigt and Dr. Tom Smith, ATC.

Blessings to you all, and please consider the more excellent way this holiday season. Thanks for your time.